Case: the K-Group offers its customers a free charging point network

Plugit Finland is K-Group’s expert installation and maintenance partner.

Baseline: Accountability and better service for customers

Accountability, an intrinsic part of everyday operations at Kesko and K-stores, enables customers to make good choices. The K-Group wanted to offer its customers free EV charging services. Charging would be activated with the contactless K-Plussa card.

”We want to offer good service and help our customers make choices that are for the good of the environment. The K-Group is doing long-term work on accountability, among the central themes of which are climate change control and reduction of emissions”, says Matti Kalervo, Kesko’s Vice President for Corporate Responsibility.

Solution: Charging devices from Plugit as a turnkey delivery

Plugit recommended the KEBA KeContact and Ensto Chago EVF200 charging devices for the charging points at K-Group locations. Plugit had all installed devices branded according to Kesko’s wishes.

All K-Group charging points operate with the contactless K-Plussa card or with the K-Plussa mobile card.

Plugit offers a reporting service, which enables customer-by-customer monitoring and reporting of the charging events on the devices. The system also enables the monitoring, on a general level, of the number and cost of charging events, for example, and the amount by which CO2 emissions have thus been reduced.

Scope of delivery to Kesko: Survey service at the sites Charging device installation service Servicing and maintenance of charging devices Reporting services In 2015-2016, a total of 14 charging points were installed at K-Group locations. K-Citymarkets: Four KEBA Ke Contact charging devices, with branding. Neste K service stations: Chago EVF200 charging device, with branding. Charging points have been installed at the following locations in Finland during 2017: K-Citymarket locations: Kerava, Kuopio (x2), Salo, Sastamala, Tuusula, Vantaa (Koivukylä) Neste K-service stations: Mäntsälä, Orimattila, Sipoo

Comments on the cooperation:

“Cooperation with Plugit has been excellent throughout. We would like to thank Plugit especially for their innovativeness in developing our charging services”, says Jari Suuronen, Manager, Engineering for Kesko's grocery trade.

“Kesko’s charging network is a good example of how an electric transport charging infra should be constructed. Charging takes time - even fast charging - which means that there is a need for services in connection with the charging points. In just over a year Kesko has become one of the biggest promoters of electric transport, and we at Plugit very much appreciate having been the ones to enable it”, continues Topi Aaltonen, Director of Sales and Marketing at Plugit.

Further information:

Plugit Finland Oy, Topi Aaltonen, Director of Sales and Marketing, phone: +358 (0)46 810 1684

In brief about Kesko

Kesko is a retail industry service corporation, operating in nine countries. Accountability, an intrinsic part of everyday operations at Kesko and K-stores, enables customers to make good choices.
Kesko was placed 25th on the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World index, and at the same time was selected as the world’s most sustainable company in the retail industry. Kesko is the only Finnish company that has been listed on the index every year since its was established in 2005.